Once-a-year good-time traffic jam to return

Downtown Seymour will be bumper to bumper this weekend as hundreds of people come to Scoop the Loop.

What was once a favorite pastime of local teenagers and young adults is now a once-a-year throwback event.

This year’s Scoop the Loop will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday and will feature live music from This Old Guitar Band with special guest Jordan Richart at One Chamber Square.

It’s the fourth official year for the event, which was revived through the power of Facebook by Erin Hays of Seymour. Hays said he still attends the event and plans to scoop with his family and friends.

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A shot of the intersection of Chestnut and Second streets in 2012 showed a packed downtown for Scoop the Loop in Seymour. JANUARY WETZEL / THE TRIBUNE

Friends gathered on downtown street corners to catch up, reminisce and show off their rides during Scoop the Loop in Seymour in 2012. JANUARY WETZEL / THE TRIBUNE

Chestnut Street in downtown Seymour was packed with tailgaters and cruisers during Scoop the Loop in 2012. JANUARY WETZEL / THE TRIBUNE

Larry McDonald of This Old Guitar and Tom Gray have taken over organizing and promoting the event.

McDonald said he is excited about another year of music and “really cool cars.”

“So many cool memories and a great event to enjoy downtown,” he said.

People may arrive early to eat and shop beforehand. Bullwinkle’s Family Restaurant, Larrison’s Diner, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant, Rails Craft Brew and Eatery, Chillicen, the Elks and the Eagles clubs, Java Joint, Artistic Impressions and 13th Floor Music will be open. Some will offer specials on food, drinks and merchandise.

Official Scoop the Loop T-shirts can be purchased for $10 at This Old Guitar. This year’s design features vintage cars owned by local residents.

Lori Rollins of Seymour said scooping the loop was the only thing to do “in the day.”

“I met a lot of people back then,” she said. “It’s a really fun night to see those people all these years later. I’m looking forward to it.”

Last year’s event was cut short by a thunderstorm, so Rollins said she is hoping the weather is good this year.

Besides people, another highlight of Scoop the Loop is getting to see the rides, from antique to vintage and new models, everything goes, including the family station wagon.

Although she missed the heyday of scooping the loop, Seymour teen Katie Campfield said she plans to be downtown Saturday night.

“I went last year, and it was so exciting and awesome watching all those cars,” she said. “There was some nice people there who befriended us and took us on a ride in their very old car. That was the best thing ever.”

There also will be a car show during the day at Shields Park sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church.